Dare - Draco Malfoy

Chapter 32: Caught

Maeve:

After three painfully long days I get dismissed from the hospital. I was told to keep at ease this week, not tiring myself as I am still 'too frail'.

But I need to be strong, I need to focus on what I have to do. I need to get on with it and soon.

The library seems the least distracting place where I can think, devise a plan to get into Dumbledore's office alone. The tighten security makes this a whole lot more complicated. I would have to go at night. Sometime this weekend. If I have to do this, it might take me time to get ready, also not having to worry about time would be of help. No one would suspect me if they saw me wondering around the castle. By now, all professors know about my random sickness and for once I could use it on my advantage. If I am to be caught I can pretend to be in one of my states again.

I spend the week going over the plan in my head. The office has a password. I have a list of those to try out, as well as a list of spells to open locked doors. The nerves start to build up as the week advances. I find myself in the library every second I can, reading spell books and mainly just thinking.

Getting inside Dumbledore's office is not the only thing I have to do. Once inside, I'll need to cast a disillusionment charm, find the memory and get out without leaving a trace behind or without getting caught at all.

I am not confident in this, I feel like a child, so silly and clumsy. Completely lost.

As Friday night arrives I crumple the piece of paper in my hands as I sneak out of the dorms. It's 2 am and everyone is asleep. The common room fire fully extinguished. Total silence. I get out of the oak door and after a second hesitation I start walking determinately towards the staircases taking to the upper floors.

I walk down pathways and up sets of stairs. I am out of my breath, trying to be quiet is making all this even more exhausting.

Suddenly I hear a brusk noise, a door opening somewhere. I can't tell where the noise is coming from because of the echo of the large stone corridors. I halt and immediately shove myself in the alcove of a window. I hold my breath, hoping against hope not to be discovered. I am so close, I can't retreat now.

I wait, my chest aching, fists clenched. I let a few minutes of silence pass before sneaking back out. Everything is still again. I resume my race.

Every sound makes me jump. I keep looking behind me, expecting anyone to show at any moment. I can hear my own heart fighting against fear, throbbing inside me.

These corridors frighten me. This emptiness fills me. I look out of the windows as I pass, to see complete darkness, not a movement nor light. It's so cold, smoke is coming out of my mouth.

My fingertips are of ice. My panting is the only sound now.

More stairs, more turns. I realise how infinite this place is.